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Chronology of Events The Sudan, Abyssinia & Somaliland

3 rd February 1940 East Africa Force placed under command of Commanderin Chief Middle East (General Wavell).

10 th June 1940 Italy declares war on the United Kingdom and France.

June 1940 First South African brigade arrives in East Africa,together with a South African air contingent.

July 1940 Two West African brigades arrive in East Africa.

August 1940 Italian troops invade British Somaliland, securing thecountry within the month. Allied troops (two Indianbattalions, two African battalions, and a battalion of theBlack Watch) are evacuated to Aden.

September 1940 5 th Indian Division arrives at Port Sudan.

October 1940 1 st South African Infantry Division, 11 th (African)Division and 12 th (African) Division all concentrate innorthern Kenya as part of East Africa Force.

1 st November 1940 Lieutenant General Alan CUNNINGHAM, D.S.O., M.C.assumes command in East Africa from LieutenantGeneral DICKINSON.

November 1940 10 th Indian Brigade attacks Gallabat in southern Sudan,with the object of capturing the fort. The attack wassuccessful, albeit, that the Brigade had to withdraw dueto it being bombed and the troops being too exposed.

Early January 1941 4 th Indian Division arrives from Egypt.

19 t January 1941 4 t Indian Division commences attack with Gazelle Forceto capture Sabderat. 5 th Indian Division commencesadvance towards Aicota.

19 th January 1941 As advances commence, it becomes apparent thatItalian Forces have withdrawn. 4 th Division follows up,and with Gazelle Force meets the rearguard at Keru.

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10 th February 1941 3 rd Bn. 1 st Punjab Regiment attack up fromCameron Ridge during the afternoon. Theysuccessfully capture again Brigs Peak, and moveon to the lower slopes of Mount Sanchil. Heavycounter attacks force them back to Brigs Peak,and later to Cameron Ridge.

The Acqua Col feature was again attacked by the4 th Bn. 6 th Rajputana Rifles. They again reach theridge but are unable to consolidate their gains

4 th Bn. 11 th Sikh Regiment also attacked on theright of 4 th /6 th Rajputanas, but were able to makeprogress.

11 t February 1941 An East African brigade (22 n Brigade of 12 t (African)Division) captures Afmadu, which had been abandoned.

It then turns south for Kismayu. The 24th Gold CoastBrigade heads for the Juba river at Bulo Erillo.

14 th February 1941 East African troops enter the port of Kismayu againstminimal opposition. The South African Division crossthe Juba River and capture Jumbo against heavyresistance. Over the next few days, the NigerianBrigade is landed at Kismayu and strikes north forMogadishu.

25th

February 1941 Mogadishu is captured by the 23rd

Nigerian Brigade ofthe 11 th (African) Division.

15 th March 1941 Attack renewed on the Keren defence line. 2 nd Camerons, and 1 st Royal Fusiliers attacking BrigsPeak and Sanchil, achieving partial success.

1 st /6 th Rajputana Rifles, 2 nd /5 th Mahratta L.I., and4 th /11 th Sikh Regiment also attacked on the left ofthe main assault. Again assaults only resulted inpartial success.

On the right of the 4

th

Indian Division, the 5th

Indian Division attacked led by the 2 nd HighlandL.I., its objective being features below the fort.The battalion becomes pinned down by fire.

3 rd /5 th Mahratta L.I. and 3 rd /12 th F.F.R. attack afeature known as the Pinnacle, a 1,000 feet abovethem. This attack, won against much adversitywas successful.

The 2 nd West Yorkshire Regiment moved up andexploited the success, capturing Fort Dologorodoc.

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16 th March 1941 Attacks are mounted by Allied Forces from the Forttowards the Sphinx, but, without success.

16 t March 1941 Allied troops land at Berbera in British Somaliland toreclaim it from the Italian invaders. They then movewest to meet the 11 th (African) Division.

16 th 23 rd March1941

Italian troops launch counter attacks against the Fort,but they are beaten back with heavy losses.

17 th March 1941 11 th (African) Division captures Jijiga after moving northfrom Mogadishu at great speed.

22 n March 1941 Allied troops take Negelli in the south of Abyssinia.

24th

March 1941 2nd

Highland L.I. and 4th /10

th Baluch attack features

called the railway bumps below Cameron Ridge. Thisattack was successful, with Sappers commencingclearing the road through the gorge. A supportingattack by 3 rd /5 th Mahrattas met fierce resistance buteventually made its objectives.

27 t March 19410730 hours

An assault is launched to clear the gorge. As the troopsattack, a white flag appears above Mount Sanchil. The4 th and 5 th Divisions drive through the gorge in pursuit.

4 th April 1941 Gideon Force, an unit of Sudanese and Abyssinniantroops under the command of Major Wingate, attackand capture Debra Markos in the west of the country.

6 t April 1941 Allied troops enter Addis Ababa, which had beenvacated by Italian troops.

7 th April 1941 Allied troops capture Massawa in the north of thecountry.

Mid April 1941 4 th Indian Division withdrawn from Abyssinia and sentback to Egypt due to latest Axis advance.

26 th April 1941 Allied troops capture Dessie.

29 th April 1941 Units of 5 th Indian Division attack the remaining bastionof Italian troops in Abyssinia at the Toselli Pass.

5 th May 1941 Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa.

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13 th May 1941 A coordinated attack by 5 th Indian and 1 st South AfricanDivisions begins on Toselli Pass.

19 t May 194111.15 hours

The main elements of the Italian Army surrender andmarch out of Amba Alagi into captivity.

23 rd May 1941 About 8,000 Italian troops under Colonel Maraventanosurrendered at Agibar.

10 th July 1941 Final extant Italian troops, some 40,000 in number,under General Nasi now located at Gondar.

27 t September 1941 25 t (E.A.) and 26 t (E.A.) Brigades, together withSudanese and Patriot Forces attack Wolchefit at theentrance to Gondar plain. Garrison surrenders.

21 st November 1941 Garrison at Kulkaber surrenders.

27 th November 1941 Final Italian surrender at Gondar, some 10,000 Italianand 12,000 Colonial soldiers are taken into captivity.